[Misc] Giant Wasps

[Arthur]

Was just sat in my office at home and heard a very loud but low buzzing noise coming from the hallway. Thought WTF is that so went to investigate. It was coming from the bathroom so went in there only to be presented with what only can be described as a giant wasp. It was probably an inch a half long and was as round as a dart barrel.

Just had a google and I'm guessing it was a European Hornet. Says they are quite common in Southern England but I've never seen anything as big as that bugger before. Are they common? And do they get to be as big as that?

Sadly it flew out the window before I had chance to get a picture of it. If it comes back I'll be prepared as I'll hear it coming a mile off.

 

[Curious Orange]

Yeah, hornet. My old house backed onto a common, and it was quite usual to see one flying around - usually banging on the windows.

 

[SAC]

I thought Brexit was supposed to stop these Europeans coming over here

 

[Eeyore]

Might bee those killer bees the Daily Mail said were coming a few years ago.

 

[papachris]

Was just sat in my office at home and heard a very loud but low buzzing noise coming from the hallway. Thought WTF is that so went to investigate. It was coming from the bathroom so went in there only to be presented with what only can be described as a giant wasp. It was probably an inch a half long and was as round as a dart barrel.

Just had a google and I'm guessing it was a European Hornet. Says they are quite common in Southern England but I've never seen anything as big as that bugger before. Are they common? And do they get to be as big as that?

Sadly it flew out the window before I had chance to get a picture of it. If it comes back I'll be prepared as I'll hear it coming a mile off.

I believe you. I saw one on the bonnet of a car in Tallinn last week and we are very far north. As you say they are huge!

 

[Psychobilly freakout]

Was just sat in my office at home and heard a very loud but low buzzing noise coming from the hallway. Thought WTF is that so went to investigate. It was coming from the bathroom so went in there only to be presented with.

I would have knocked first, Mrs Arthur could have been busy....

 

[Guinness Boy]

Was just sat in my office at home and heard a very loud but low buzzing noise coming from the hallway. Thought WTF is that so went to investigate. It was coming from the bathroom so went in there only to be presented with what only can be described as a giant wasp. It was probably an inch a half long and was as round as a dart barrel.

Just had a google and I'm guessing it was a European Hornet. Says they are quite common in Southern England but I've never seen anything as big as that bugger before. Are they common? And do they get to be as big as that?

Sadly it flew out the window before I had chance to get a picture of it. If it comes back I'll be prepared as I'll hear it coming a mile off.

We had a swarm of hornets come out of the lightshade in one of our apartment's bedrooms when we lived in Taipei. Legged it out of the bedroom to get the electrified tennis racquet type thing that we used to kill mossies as a defence while we worked out what they were and what to do with them. Went back in the room and they'd literally buzzed off.

I would have put it down to a fairly vivid dream after some of the local hooch, but the Mrs remembers exactly the same thing! Never saw them again....

(the 'racquet' was one of these sort of thing https://www.amazon.co.uk/mosquito-bat/s?k=mosquito+bat )

 

[Diablo]

There's little doubt that the European hornet, Vespa crabro, is a rather fearsome looking insect. But this ferocious exterior betrays a species that is in fact rarely aggressive. Unlike their infamous relatives, hornets are unlikely to disrupt your picnic. Their sheer size - between 2-3 cm's for workers and males, 3-4 cm's for queens - and riotous buzz can however make them an intimidating proposition.

 

[BNthree]

Was out walking near Lindfield the other week and saw the biggest hornet I've ever seen in my life. It was terrifying.

 

[jamie (not that one)]

A European Hornet? This is exactly why I voted out.

 

[POSKETT AT THE VALLEY]

I was out on a fishing boat once and one of the buggers tried to land, presumably as it was knackered. Looked like something out of bugs life. Would have made a cracking youtube video with six blokes running round the deck.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

We had a swarm of hornets come out of the lightshade in one of our apartments' bedrooms when we lived in Taipei. Legged it out of the bedroom to get the electrified tennis racquet type thing that we used to kill mossies as a defence while we worked out what they were and what to do with them. Went back in the room and they'd literally buzzed off.

I would have put it down to a fairly vivid dream after some of the local hooch, but the Mrs remembers exactly the same thing! Never saw them again....

(the 'racquet' was one of these sort of thing https://www.amazon.co.uk/mosquito-bat/s?k=mosquito+bat )

How many f***ing apartments have you got? Christ. I thought you were a socialist.

(Had to shift an apostrophe for that jape. I hope there aren't statutory penalties for doctoring a moderator's post )

 

[Guinness Boy]

How many f***ing apartments have you got? Christ. I thought you were a socialist.

(Had to shift an apostrophe for that jape. I hope there aren't statutory penalties for doctoring a moderator's post )

You cad. And bounder.

 

[Baldseagull]

I have noticed more hornets about in the last 4 or 5 years than previously. They are carnivorous, I see them hawking honey bees near the hive. They wont bother you much unless you are close to their nest, they don't get drunk in the autumn like wasps can.

 

[dazzer6666]

Was just sat in my office at home and heard a very loud but low buzzing noise coming from the hallway. Thought WTF is that so went to investigate. It was coming from the bathroom so went in there only to be presented with what only can be described as a giant wasp. It was probably an inch a half long and was as round as a dart barrel.

Just had a google and I'm guessing it was a European Hornet. Says they are quite common in Southern England but I've never seen anything as big as that bugger before. Are they common? And do they get to be as big as that?

Sadly it flew out the window before I had chance to get a picture of it. If it comes back I'll be prepared as I'll hear it coming a mile off.

Our house backs onto a wood, we see them pretty much daily in the Summer and have had one or two in the house. Sounds like a ****ing helicopter when approaching but they're not aggressive like wasps, will usually leave you alone.

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

We’ve a few flying stag beetles in our garden. Slow, noisy and harmless, but disconcerting when coming towards you at head height.

 

[el punal]

A European Hornet? This is exactly why I voted out.

Farageus Europaeus - a specimen seen frequenting the cliffs of Dover. Is attracted to milk and other liquids.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I have noticed more hornets about in the last 4 or 5 years than previously. They are carnivorous, I see them hawking honey bees near the hive. They wont bother you much unless you are close to their nest, they don't get drunk in the autumn like wasps can.

I have a very peculiar plum tree that fruits in July. As soon as the fruit ripens the wasps are at it like the little bastards they are. After a couple of days the fruit falls and starts to ferment. Five years ago we had to do an Air BNB for 2 months while our extension was built. I would pop round from time to time to admire progress, and practice my working class banter with the cheery artisans.

In late July there was much tutting at one particular of my arrivals. Apparently a swarm of pissed up wasps had been creating havoc among the workforce. I made the mistake of making light of it.

They knew it wasn't my actual fault, and no words of outright blame were forthcoming, but my approval rating quickly plummeted, and a certain froideur gripped the summer air. All bantz were off. I may be wrong but, despite the season, I'm sure I saw little fronds of frost appearing on the newly installed glass patio doors as I slunk off, pretending I had something important do do.

 

[Binney on acid]

Giant wasps ? The album's not great. The singer does tend to drone on a bit.

 

[el punal]

I suppose if the wasps relocated to the west of Brighton they would have their own song :

“Hive Hove Silver Lining”

Time for me to buzz off.